Mary Berry is to host a new BBC cooking show featuring recipes from across her career

Mary, 81, will focus on food and ingredients she uses most in the six-episode series.
BBC Two’s Patrick Holland said: “I am thrilled Mary is returning to BBC Two to share her magic.”
The announcement came after a fresh war began between the BBC and Channel 4 over the future of the Great British Bake Off – after the makers of the programme mounted a new legal bid to air the show in 2017.

The BBC was forced to hand over the show to Channel 4 earlier this year after the latter offered the higher price of £75million.

Bosses at the BBC believe they are contractually allowed to block Love Productions, the company which makes the show, from evening beginning to produce a new series until at least 12 months have passed since the final episode was aired last month, reports the Mirror.

Sources have previously claimed the BBC had told the show makers it would not back down over the delay clause.

The Beeb had said Love Productions shouldn’t even be able to start producing a new series until one year after the final episode aired last month

This would mean a delay of more than a year before it could possibly appear on screen.

Yesterday however it emerged that Channel 4 was looking at the possibility of a “legal loophole” which could means bosses may soon hold fresh talks to reach a deal.

One industry insider with expertise in such deals told the Sunday People: “The BBC have what is known in the trade as a hold-back clause – it’s something they insist on as standard with all their shows.

“But with Bake Off the situation is slightly different – because even though the BBC has lost the show, they still have to commercial rights for several more years.

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“They’re duty bound by their own policy to maximise the commercial return on their own intellectual property rights – which covers merchandise – and keeping Bake Off away from screens is not going to help with that.

“That could well form the basis of a strong legal argument to get the show on air sooner.”

Channel 4 had initially expected they would have to wait until 2018 to air a full series of the show, with sources close to the deal accepting they had gone into the arrangement with their “eyes open” and still felt the show was a worthwhile investment.

But they have already announced plans to produce a special celebrity series in support of their charity, Stand Up To Cancer.

Channel 4 initially thought it couldn’t get the show on air until 2018 but has now launched a fresh bid to make it happen sooner

Mary told Prima magazine: “2016 has been a wonderful year. Bake Off was fantastic this year. I love being a judge.

“I’ve been filming my own series – Mary Berry Everyday – for next year.

“I love doing that, too, because I really get down to cooking. I was a guest presenter on Woman’s Hour, which was a huge honour and I enjoyed it. I’m very lucky to be asked to do what I do. But I only do the things that I really love.

Mary Berry’s new BBC show however will air early next year – well before a new series of Bake Off

“I love cooking – all sorts of cooking, not just baking.

“Personally, family comes first. I’ve just had half of them to stay this weekend, and it’s sheer joy. But I’m very busy, so what we do is go on holiday all together with the children and grandchildren, and it’s a special time.”

Greg James pays tribute to the end of Great British Bake Off in James Blunt spoof

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